Sky Medical Technology enters a distributor agreement with SMS Medical in the US to offer the geko® device for the elimination of edema (swelling) and blood clot (DVT) prevention following orthopaedic surgery.

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Mar 06, 2025, 16:35 ET

The geko® device complements the SMS Medical's Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) solutions – also referred to as 'fast track', 'accelerated', or 'rapid recovery'.

Edema can significantly impede recovery, increase pain and the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) following elective orthopaedic surgery and orthopaedic trauma^1,2,3
The geko device is a, first-of-a-kind, muscle pump activator clinically proven to reduce lower limb edema⁴.
It also provides the added benefit of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention in immobile and/or medically ill patients^5,6.

LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global medical device manufacturer, Sky Medical Technology (Sky), parent company of Firstkind Ltd, today announced a limited distribution agreement with SMS Medical, LLC (SMS) – a market leader in orthopaedic device solutions in the Southeast United States. SMS will sell Sky's wearable muscle pump activator, the geko device in the orthopaedic community for post-operative and trauma-based edema (swelling), and for the prevention of DVT (blood clots).

The geko® device (PRNewsfoto/Sky Medical Technology)

Hip to toe – edema hot spots (PRNewsfoto/Sky Medical Technology)

Firstkind Logo (PRNewsfoto/Firstkind)

Geko Circulation Support Logo (PRNewsfoto/Sky Medical Technology)

The agreement will result in an exclusive offering, integrating the geko device into SMS's orthopaedic product portfolio, to address edema and DVT prevention across all lower limb orthopaedic procedures, including elective total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and foot & ankle, as well as lower extremity orthopaedic trauma.

Commenting on the deal, Joseph Collins, VP, Business Development at SMS Medical said: "We are excited to have the geko device as part of our orthopaedic product portfolio. Edema can significantly impede recovery following elective orthopaedic surgery and orthopaedic trauma and is one of the most common challenges our orthopaedic surgeons encounter when patients return for their initial post-op visit. Clinically proven to reduce edema, we see the geko device as a groundbreaking technology that not only enhances patient recovery but also reduces healthcare costs."

Commenting on behalf of Sky, Bernard Ross, Founder and CEO said: "We are proud to partner with SMS Medical to drive positive change for surgeons and their patients recovering after surgery. The agreement heralds an exciting relationship and underscores a joint dedication to provide orthopaedic surgeons with groundbreaking tools that can deliver better patient outcomes and healthcare system savings."

SMS anticipates introducing the geko device to select markets in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2025. For more information call: Mark Sacaris, President, US Operations at 760-815-6474 or visit www.gekodevices.com/US

About the geko device

Through its innovative mechanism of neuromuscular electrostimulation, the battery powered, geko device, which is applied non-invasively to the skin over the common peroneal nerve at the side of the knee, gently stimulates the nerve, once every second, activating the calf and foot muscle pumps, increasing blood flow in the deep veins of the calf⁷ at rate equal to 60%⁸ of walking, without a patient having to move. Through this unique mechanism of action – a combination of calf muscle activation and blood flow increase – the geko device reduces fluid leakage in the capillary bed and improvement in lymphatic function while promoting edema clearance by local reabsorption of excess interstitial fluid and reducing the risk of DVT.

About SMS Medical, LLC

SMS, comprising a 140-strong sales team, is a leading independent, orthopaedic distributor of medical devices and equipment based in the southeast United States covering the following states-AL, MS, LA, TN, and FL.

About Sky Medical technology

Sky Medical Technology (Sky) is a UK-based medical devices company. Through its innovative mechanism of non-invasive neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES), Sky has developed a ground-breaking NMES technology platform, OnPulse™, embedded in its industry-leading product, the geko™ device – a muscle pump activator. The company develops a range of products tailored to the needs of different medical application areas, selling both direct and through strategic partnerships or distributors in each major clinical area. Clinical areas of interest include the management of trauma-based and orthopaedic pre- and post-operative edema (swelling), the prevention of venous thromboembolism prevention (VTE) and the acceleration of chronic wound healing (leg ulcers). The goal in each therapy area is to partner with healthcare professionals to improve clinical outcomes and patient care while at the same time reducing cost for health systems. www.gekodevices.com

References

Wickline A, et al. "Mitigating the Post-Operative Swelling Tsunami in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Call to Action." Journal of Orthopaedic Experience & Innovation 4 (2). Journal Orthopaedic Experience & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.60118/001c.77444.
Singh V, et al. "Emergency department visits following total joint arthroplasty: do revisions present a higher burden?". Bone Jt Open. 2022 Jul 7;3(7):543–548. doi: 10.1302/2633-1462.37.BJO-2022-0026.R1
Gitajn I L, et al. "Deep Surgical Site Infection after Fracture Has a Profound Effect on Functional Outcomes". IJB JS Open Access. 2024 Jan 9;9(1):e23.00042. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.23.00042
Wainwright TW, et al. "A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Novel Neuromuscular Electro-stimulation Device in Preventing the Formation of Oedema Following Total Hip Replacement Surgery." Heliyon 18 Jul 2018- Volume 4, Issue 7.
J. Williams1, C. Roffe1, I. Natarajan1, C. Moss1, C. Lambert1, L. Richards2. "The use of the geko™ device and the activation of the foot and calf pumps for prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients with acute stroke." 1. University Hospital of North Midland NHS Trust, Acute Stroke Unit, Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom. 2. Undergraduate School of Medicine- Keele University, Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom.
NICE Guidance (MTG19). Published June 2014.
A Nicolaides, M Griffin. "Measurement of blood flow in the deep veins of the lower limb using the geko™ device neuromuscular electro-stimulation device." Journal of International Angiology, August 2016-04.
Tucker A, et al. "Augmentation of venous, arterial and microvascular blood supply in the leg by isometric neuromuscular stimulation via the peroneal nerve." Int J Angiol. 2010 Spring; 19(1): e31–e37. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1278361